[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 745]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING DAVID A. FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 26, 2010

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, a community prospers and thrives on the 
contributions of its citizens to the common good. David A. Ford has 
been active in all aspects of the community life of Mount Vernon for 
all of his adult life, serving as Commissioner of the Water Department 
since 1977 and in innumerable positions in the volunteer and political 
sectors. There are few aspects of life in Mount Vernon that he has not 
touched and made better.
  While his life was community involvement, his passion was politics. 
From 1969 to 1996, he was Chairman of the Mount Vernon Democratic City 
Committee. He is Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester County 
and a member of the Council of Black Elected Democrats of New York 
State. He is also a New York State Committeeperson for the 84th 
Assembly District. More personally, and to my joy, he serves as my 
Special Assistant.
  He has also served as President of the Lions Club of Mount Vernon and 
President of the Mount Vernon YMCA. He is a Life Member of the 369 
Veteran's Association, and a Life Member of the Mount Vernon NAACP. He 
is Chairman of the Board of Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center and 
a member of the National Association of Health Care Providers.
  And under his leadership the Board of Water Supply has continued a 
longstanding tradition of excellence.
  He is a veteran of WWII. He is married to the former Eula (Daisy) 
Gadson and is the proud father of five children (David Jr., Renee, 
Garey, Michael, and Karen). He has five grandchildren: Rachel, Shaarod, 
Nardara, Jerel and David Christopher) and one great-grandchild, Amira.
  David is retiring and I wish him all the very best that retirement 
has to offer. This is Mount Vernon's loss for he has contributed to his 
community for longer and better than we are ever likely to see again. 
On a personal note I am happy to say that he will still be advising me, 
which means he will still be helping me to help the people of Mount 
Vernon.

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